Bridle to prevent horses prom kicking or running away



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. LANIER, OF EUFAULA, ALABAMA.

BRIDLE TO PREVENT HORSES FROM KICKING OR RUNNING AWAY.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,889, dated October 26, 1858.

.To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JNO. M. LANIER, of Eufaula, in the county of Barbour and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements` in Bridles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the employment of a strap which passes through rings or loops, either at the top of the head stall or on its side near the top, to which a bit is attached which operates upon the upper jaw and roof of the horses mouth as will be hereinafter described.

In order that those skilled in the art may construct and use my improvement I will proceed to describe its operation and construction.

In the annexed ligure which is a perspective view of the bridle A represents the headstall, which is secured to the bit H, at the rings I, I.

C, represents the brow band and D, the throat latch.

M, M, are the reins which are attached to the rings I, I, of the bit H.

L, represents a strap which is divided as will be seen, and runs through separate loops on the top of the head stall at a, a. It passes down and is joined again, and is secured to a ring E, at a position, when the bridle is on the horse, below his eyes, on his face.

F, F, are straps which are also secured to the ring E, and which pass on either side of the horses nose and attach to a bit G, at the rings c, o. The bit Gr, is made square, being the most severe on the mouth of the horse, but may be made in other shape.

K is a ring secured to the strap L, and by means of which it is attached to the saddle. J, is also a ring on strap L, to which a line may be attached which runs back to the driver.

It is not absolutely necessary that the strap L, should pass between the ears of the horse, although it is best to have it do so. It may pass through loops or rings on the side of the head stall near its top and still have a good effect.

This bridle is adjusted to the head of the horse in the same manner that any common bridle is, both of the bits being received into his mouth, but it is evident that in its operation it is different, for when the driver pulls upon the strap L, the bit G, presses on the upper jaw and against the roof of the horses mouth and that portion of his mouth being very tender his head is thrown up necessa.

rily both on account of the pain which is inflicted and on account of the great leverage which is obtained. A horse has not power enough in his upper jaw and neck to resist the force of a man, or even a boy, applied to the strap L, the leverage being so great.

The great advantage of this bridle is evident when we consider that a horse must throw down one end, when he throws up the other. It is intended to prevent horses from kicking' or running away. A horse cannot kick up behind unless he throws his head down and so long as his head is elevated and kept up he cannot kick with his hind feet. A horse cannot run away when his head is up and his nose pointing out straight in front, as he must have his head in such a position as to see where he steps, which is impossible when his head is in the position in which it is placed by this bridle when necessary. The most vicious animals may be broken of their bad habits in a few hours y time by the use of the bit employed in this manner.

Having thus fully described my improvement what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is not the employ ment of two bits operating upon one jaw of the horse-nor do I claim operating one bit by means of two sets of reins, but

I do claim the employment of two bits, so arranged with two sets of reins that one bit will operate upon the lower jaw, while the other operates upon the roof of the mouth and upper jaw, the same being combined and operated in the manner and for the purpose herein specified.

JOHN M. LANIER. 

